BUGATTI v. BENTLEY

* * * BUGATTI v. BENTLEY Sir,

I am strictly neutral in this discussion, being an admirer of both makes, but not considering them to be comparable. Even so, I cannot let Mr. Bell’s attempts at argument pass. In his second paragraph he tries to discredit Mr. Hunter’s list of Bentley successes by stating cases of Bugattis leading in the earlier stages of these races. But the object of entering in a race is presumably to win it, not to lead for part of the race and then retire from mechanical or other failure. The instances quoted by Mr. Bell, if they are an argument for anything, are an argument for the unreliability of Bugattis, and therefore scarcely fair to le Patron.

The truth is that both are very fine cars, but designed with no common viewpoint, and therefore no common ground on which they could meet and be fairly compared. Occasionally one ventured into the territory of the other and probably lost the encounter. There is no basis for comparison and argument between the two makes, and any attempt to create an argument can only result in a succession of statements on both sides, most of them probably entirely accurate but none of them proving anything. Let them remain two fine and entirely different makes of car! I am, Yours, etc., London, S.W.13. A. HAWLEY. [This correspondence is now closed.—En.] * I *